After taking a week off from posting to recharge, Andy and I decided to check out a new addition here in McKinney: Oak & Stone.

It is their very first location in Texas, and it completely blew us away. The team working there was incredibly welcoming, and the modern space offers tons of great seating options both inside and out. With the garage doors wide open to let in a perfect afternoon breeze and some really chill music playing, it was the ultimate relaxed spot to watch the Norway/Ivory Coast soccer match on a Tuesday afternoon.

Normally, this monthly feature is all about crowning a single, standout beer. But today? Oak & Stone threw our playbook completely out the window. Forget everything you know about ordering a standard pint. Oak & Stone features an interactive self-pour tap wall with roughly 30+ rotating choices. They hand you a magic tap card, cut you loose, and suddenly you are the bartender. Want a single splash of a rare brew? You got it. Want to try five different things before committing? Go wild. No waiting, no commitment—just pure, unadulterated beer-tasting freedom!

And the best part? It is truly designed for everyone. While we were focused on the craft brews, the wall is also loaded with wine, ciders, craft cocktails, and spirits like bourbon and whiskey on tap. If you aren’t a beer drinker, you have the exact same freedom to sample a premium wine or a mixed drink by the ounce. It turns a regular trip to the pub into a full-blown tasting adventure for the whole table.

🌟 You Can Only Get It Here!

What makes this tap wall incredibly special right out of the gate is that they partner with regional favorites to create exclusive brews. It’s so cool to walk up and sample a completely one-of-a-kind beer made only for Oak & Stone by the breweries you already know and love. We started by tapping into Hausbier by Community Beer Co. and Stone’s Throw by Saint Arnold. We are already massive fans of Saint Arnold, but they truly outdid themselves with this one. It was the undisputed winner of our first trip to the wall—and honestly, just knowing you can walk up and find custom creations you can’t get anywhere else completely sets this place apart right from the start.

🧪 A Wildly Amazing “Dessert Experiment”

Because you pay by the ounce on the wall, it gives you the freedom to experiment without risking a full pint. We noticed two decadent options: Texas Sheet Cake (packed with a phenomenal, toasted pecan flavor) and Queen de Minthe (rich with a bold chocolate-mint flavor) both from Martin House Brewing Co. We decided to play mad scientist and poured a small glass that was half Texas Sheet Cake and half Queen de Minthe.

The custom mix of pecan, chocolate, and mint was wildly amazing. Who needs a standard tap list when you can play Willy Wonka with your own beer glass! 🎩

🎯 Finding A New Favorite Brewery on the Tap Wall

Leesl: Okay, if you want to know why we are already planning a trip to Fort Worth, look no further than Three Wide Brewing. My absolute favorite pour of the day was their Tropic Groove. It’s a hazy IPA that is an absolute coconut bomb—incredibly refreshing, creamy, and basically summer vacation in a glass. I could have stayed tapped into that one all afternoon.

Andy: While Leesl was imagining herself on a tropical island, I stayed on the mainland with their Chugalug Me. It’s a beautifully crafted, smooth Amber Ale with a really distinct caramel malt finish. We both walked away hooked on the same brewery for completely different reasons, so I agree a trip to their Fort Worth taproom is officially a must.

🍕🍗 Beyond The Flight: What’s Cooking?

Of course, we couldn’t just drink our lunch. It turns out the kitchen puts as much craft into the menu as the wall does into the handles. We kicked things off with a starter of bacon-wrapped street corn jalapeño poppers, which was the perfect opening act. For the main course, Andy went with a personal pizza featuring sausage, flavorful homemade meatballs, and their own signature handcrafted dough. I opted for the wings—gloriously blackened and drizzled with a sweet-and-spicy kick of hot honey. It was a seriously delicious progression of flavors to back up our flights.

With our glasses full and our plates cleared, it was finally time to settle on a monthly champion—which turned out to be easier said than done.

🎬🍿 Our Cliffhanger: Can We Pick Just One…

Leesl: So, if you’re waiting for us to name a single, official Pint of the Month winner… we have a confession to make. We can’t do it! Between the massive tap wall and discovering Three Wide Brewing, it’s a total split decision.

Andy: Leesl, hold on, if we are talking about what paired the absolute best with that scratch-made meatball pizza and those spectacular blackened hot-honey wings, there is a clear winner.

Leesl: Okay, you’re right. For the ultimate food pairing, the crown definitely goes to Stone’s Throw by Saint Arnold. The balance on that pour is incredible—it stands up to the hearty homemade meatballs but still lets the sweet heat of the hot-honey drizzle completely shine. It’s a match made in pub-grub heaven.

Andy: Exactly. So, while we’re planning a Fort Worth road trip to visit Three Wide Brewery, Saint Arnold wins the McKinney match day lineup.

Leesl: Our ultimate advice? Don’t even try to pick just one favorite when you visit. Oak & Stone brought an incredible, flavor-packed playground to McKinney, and we are officially hooked. Grab a tap card, order a round of wings, and go get beautifully undecided.

💬 Over to You!

Drop a comment below: What’s going in your first pour? Are you team tropical coconut, or are you sticking to the mainland with a classic amber? Let’s hear it! 👇🍻

Happy July 1st, everyone—cheers to a spectacular summer! 🍻🍕✨